Today we’d like to introduce you to Aalisha Jaisinghani.
Hi Aalisha, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Here’s my entire life’s journey in music 🙂
My life in music has been as diverse as it has been rewarding. From the start, my path was clear—I first answered the age-old question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” with a resounding “rockstar.”
My parents were incredibly supportive, and I began piano lessons at the age of six. My appreciation for classical piano truly blossomed at my performing arts middle school. After that, my acceptance into Dreyfoos School of the Arts provided the perfect fast-paced musical environment; I delved further into jazz piano, rock, and contemporary music and further explored my lifelong dream of songwriting.
I earned a dual degree at Washington University in St. Louis: a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance alongside a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics. I adored my time exploring my love for STEM, but music is my forefront passion. Under the guidance of esteemed mentors such as Amanda Kirkpatrick, William Lenihan, and Kara Baldus-Mehrmann, I continued to refine my skills in classical and jazz piano. I also had the opportunity to form and front two rock bands, the first step of fulfilling my childhood rockstar dream.
During my undergraduate years, I experienced the beginning of my teaching career as the sole undergraduate student selected to teach an Intro to Jazz Theory course at WashU for other undergraduates, a position typically reserved for graduate students. It was a thrilling experience, and it felt very natural to share my love and knowledge of the subject with others.
However, like for many, COVID-19 brought unprecedented obstacles. With the cancellation of numerous performances, I found myself at a crossroads. It was during this period of uncertainty that I decided to apply to graduate school. Although initially auditioning for piano performance and applying for concert composition, a conversation with my composition professor, Chris Stark, led me to explore the world of film scoring—a decision that would prove to be a turning point in my career. It dawned on me that film scoring encapsulated all of my passions. With a lifelong love for storytelling fueled by my avid reading and creative writing background, crafting music for these narratives was a serendipitous natural fit.
I spent two fruitful years working towards my master’s degree from New York University’s Screen Scoring program. At NYU, I had the privilege of studying under esteemed faculty such as Jamie Lawrence, Kevin Killen, Phil Galdston, and Ariel Marx, as well as the opportunity to lead exciting recording sessions. I also spent much of my time exploring experimental soundscapes and diving into the realm of horror film scoring—a genre that resonated deeply with my creative sensibilities despite my heavily classical background. Throughout all of this, I fortunately was still able to prioritize my own songwriting as well, releasing multiple indie and alternative pop records.
Today, I find myself balancing multiple roles—composer, educator, songwriter, and performer—all while pursuing my solo art. The balance has become second nature to me now — a busy chaotic life fits conforms comfortably into a busy chaotic city! Alongside my scoring and songwriting, I’ve enjoyed working with Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD). With RMCAD, I have been building an online screen-scoring undergraduate course from scratch and am teaching its first iteration. Additionally, I teach private piano lessons to students between the ages of 6-13 across Manhattan, and my involvement with a small Williamsburg music school has me leading group piano classes for kids.
In addition to my multifaceted career in music education and composition, I’ve found creative fulfillment, having formed the rock band “DUCK!”. Collaborating with talented musicians Ethan Saffold, Justin Ma, Michael Hernandez, and Alena Kutumian, we’ve crafted an original sound that blends elements of indie rock, pop, and alternative genres. From performing at venues like FirstLive to recording our eagerly anticipated EP, “DUCK!” has provided me with not only an outlet for collaborative creation but also wonderful friends to share my passion with!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This life has truly been a whirlwind journey, but I think most artists see these obstacles as an exhilarating part of the ride!
Of course, we have also had the unfortunate universal experience of living through the pandemic, which, in the best-case scenarios, paused lives and career trajectories alike. Performing musicians like myself were faced with indefinite uncertainty. My path was redirected towards compositional focus, a blessing in disguise.
Even before the pandemic, uncertainty was a constant in this field. As a musician and creator, I’ve found passion in exploring various mediums, which isn’t always sustainable in the long run. In academia, exploration is encouraged since there is a clear goal post to work towards – graduation. This may have been a factor in my choice to apply to grad school because after graduation, that goal post disappears, replaced by the pressure to streamline goals for sustainable financial stability, as well as truly contemplate long-term plans. It can be and has been discouraging at times when personal projects must be put on hold, but everything always comes to fruition at the right times!
The greatest challenge for an artist remains financial stability. After grad school, I struggled. It was the most uncertain time of my life and certainly the scariest, filled to the brim with the most self-doubt I have ever experienced. I briefly considered rerouting to a STEM career for stability, but I was worried it would consume all my time, leaving my artistic aspirations in the dust.
Film scoring, though fulfilling, doesn’t always pay the bills. I currently work multiple part-time jobs – a busy lifestyle that reflects a busy city! I work remotely part-time for Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) in Colorado, building their online Screen Scoring undergraduate course from the ground up, as well as teaching its first iteration. I also teach a myriad of private piano lessons to kids around Manhattan, and group piano classes in Williamsburg. It may be a pain when it comes to handling taxes, but everything I do is associated with something I love, keeping me on my feet and running in my own aspirations.
In the end, the challenges have been worth it. I genuinely have no regrets in avoiding a financially stable STEM career. The unpredictability of this path is completely outshined by the immense fulfillment it brings.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a screen media composer, a singer-songwriter-performer, and a classical and jazz pianist. I never know how to put it more concisely!
When it comes to film composing, I have scored dozens of short films, animations, and other screen media projects. I am best known for my experimental horror and thriller scores, where I often manipulate my own vocals to create otherworldly soundscapes.
Venturing into the realm of horror music marked a significant shift in my creative path. As a huge fan of thriller and horror stories, I have loved exploring darker sonic worlds, diverging from my classical and jazz orchestral piano tendencies. Introducing vocals into many of my compositions adds an extra layer of intensity, creating haunting sound palettes that heighten suspense and elicit fear as I physically and digitally contort my voice to create very unique noises. As I continue to specialize in horror and thriller music, my innovative use of vocals has become a defining aspect of my work and has inspired me to continue experimenting past the expected.
I won “Best Music Score” in the MultiDimension Independent Film Festival in May 2023 and was nominated for “Original Music” at the Watersprite International Festival in February 2024 in Cambridge, UK – the two achievements I’m proudest of in my scoring career so far.
My other accolades include my nominations for “Best Music Score” for three different short films within the span of two Organization of Independent Filmmakers (OIF) Orlando festivals, preceded by an FMF YTA Screen Scoring Honorable Mention Award from the Krakow Film Music Festival in May 2022.
When it comes to my songwriting, I am unable to pinpoint myself within any singular genre. My public discography consists of over 30 released tracks, including rock, jazz, and, most recently, alt-pop songs, which I often record, mix, and produce myself, usually mastered by mentor and collaborator Jamie Lawrence. Though, with my love for collaboration and learning from my peers, I am expanding more of my work moving forward to incorporate and feature other artists!
I love to mesh my multifarious influences rather than sticking to the unspoken rules of any one genre. Each release tends to contrast the previous one. I wrap my vulnerabilities into riddles for my lyrics and like to hide easter eggs in my songs—references to overly specific moments in my life or callbacks to older tracks. Even though the styles of these songs are so varied, I see all my songs as connected somehow.
In addition to my solo artist career, I have fronted, led, and written songs for multiple rock bands. I frequently perform with my current band, DUCK! Around New York City and am excited to record our first EP in the coming months.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
These days, I only get the opportunity to briefly visit LA a couple times a year for film events but am lucky to work remotely throughout the year with several LA filmmakers. Growing up in West Palm Beach, Florida, the beach and ocean were always a big part of my life. LA feels a bit like home with its familiar vibes, and it also offers a vibrant arts scene that I love. From the bustling galleries of Downtown LA to the eclectic street art of Venice Beach, there’s always something creative happening in the city. Once I can stay long-term, it’ll always be reminiscent of home!
However, as a current resident of NYC, one thing that I find comparatively challenging about LA is its public transportation system. LA’s public transportation options are more limited, making it less accessible for those without a car. This can inconvenience of being a performing artist gigging around the city!
Contact Info:
- Website: AalishaMusic.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/aalishajai
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aalisha-jaisinghani-a01026257
- Twitter: twitter.com/aalishamusic
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/aalishamusic?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Image Credit:
Candice Wu, Joshua Reed, and Alexa Whyte.
